Final answer:
Dr. Noam Chomsky of MIT criticizes studies of non-human primates using ASL by pointing out the lack of infinite generative capacity in primate communication compared to human language. He questions whether the language-like behaviors exhibited by primates are truly innate or merely the result of extensive training. Chomsky's work emphasizes the biological and cultural uniqueness of human language development.
Step-by-step explanation:
Dr. Noam Chomsky, a widely renowned linguist from MIT, has articulated several critiques regarding the studies of non-human primates using American Sign Language (ASL) or other human symbol systems. Chomsky, known for his critical views on behaviorist theories of language acquisition, emphasizes the unique aspects of human language compared to other forms of animal communication. He underscores the infinite generative capacity of human language, allowing for the combination of words and phrases to create an endless number of meanings, which he believes is not attainable by non-human primates, even those taught ASL. Chomsky argues that while primates can learn a vocabulary and use symbols, their use of language is not indicative of the same innate capacity for language structure and generation as seen in humans.
Research such as that with Koko the gorilla demonstrates that great apes can learn basic vocabulary and use simple combinations of signs to communicate desires and comments. However, Chomsky and other linguists remain skeptical because animal communication systems lack the open-endedness and complex rule system characteristic of human language. The controversies surrounding research like Penny Patterson's with Koko highlight the concern that interpretation and anecdotal evidence might not provide an objective assessment of language abilities in primates.
Another aspect of Chomsky's criticism is that the language displayed by primates in these studies is mainly a result of human teaching, raising questions about whether these abilities are innate or trained. The discussion brings attention to the biological and cultural evolution of language in humans, which may have facilitated the development of our complex and nuanced communication system, contrasting with the more limited communication capacities in non-human primates.